Diamond jewelry setting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The inventive setting has a plurality of prongs, each of the prongs having at least one, preferably two, longitudinal grooves adapted to accommodate a girdle of one or more subordinate stones. A top stone is retained by all of the prongs and bears down on the subordinate stones, so that the top stone keeps the at least one subordinate stone in place in the prongs. As the girdle of the subordinate stones is retained in the grooves of adjacent prongs, the tables of the subordinate stones faces outward between the prongs. Support beads projecting from the prongs may be provided for support on one or both sides of the girdle of the subordinate stones.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Domestic priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/779,063 filed Mar. 2, 2006 entitled “Diamond Jewelry Setting Apparatus.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new apparatus and method for setting diamonds and other precious stones to enhance jewelry.

2. Description of Related Art

In the prior art, precious stones are often set at the top of the setting in a classical basket or prong type setting while stones are mounted on the upper portion of the sides generally known as the gallery also using conventional prong type settings. In addition, pave setting techniques can also be employed to provide greater glitter for the jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new setting structure for enhancing the visual appearance of diamond jewelry and is a prong setting for jewelry. Most generally, the invention includes a plurality of spaced-apart prongs adapted to hold a top stone in a substantially horizontal plane with the top stone's table facing substantially upward and further adapted to hold a plurality of subordinate stones respectively between adjacent of the prongs with the subordinate stones' tables facing substantially outward.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive setting has a plurality of prongs, each of the prongs having at least one groove adapted to accommodate a girdle of at least one subordinate stone. A top stone is retained by all of the prongs and bears down on the least one subordinate stone, wherein the top stone keeps the at least one subordinate stone in place in the prongs. The pavilion of the top stone presses against the at least one subordinate stone on some portion of the subordinate stone.

Each of the prongs preferably has two of the grooves, wherein adjacent of the prongs accommodate substantially opposite sides of a girdle of the at least one subordinate stone; more preferably, at least one of the subordinate stones is held between each adjacent of the prongs. The grooves are preferably longitudinal along the prongs, and the table of the at least one subordinate stone faces outward between adjacent of the prongs, with the girdle retained by the grooves of the adjacent prongs.

In a more preferred embodiment, the subordinates stones include a first set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of the prongs and a second set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of the prongs respectively below each of the first set of subordinate stones. The top stone rests on the first set of subordinate stones, which in turn rest on the second set of subordinate stones. As the prongs are closer together at their respective proximal ends than at their respective distal ends (i.e., the setting tapers like a basket or bowl), the diameter of the first set of subordinate stones is larger than that of the second set.

The inventive prong optionally includes a plurality of support beads projecting from the prongs adapted to support the subordinate stones on their respective pavilions. In the case of the first and second set of subordinate stones, a first set of support beads is provided projecting from the prongs adapted to support the first set of subordinate stones on their respective pavilions, and a second set of support beads is provided projecting from the prongs adapted to support the second set of subordinate stones on their respective pavilions.

As with conventional prong settings, distal ends of the prongs may be bent over the girdle of the top stone to help retain the top stone. Additional stones may be provided along the outer sides of the prongs for decorative effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a prong setting in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2A-E are a series of views showing the inventive setting being put together.

FIG. 3 is an elevational schematic showing a completed inventive setting atop a ring.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic showing a completed inventive setting atop a ring.

FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic showing an alternate embodiment of a prong setting in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic showing an enlarged view of the prong setting of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic showing additional features of a prong setting in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

Description will now be given of the invention with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-7. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.

FIGS. 1-7 illustrate the invention both in terms of its process and alternative embodiments/features.

This invention only shows the head of the jewelry holding the stones, or in some cases, attached to ring bodies, but the head could be adaptable for rings, earrings or any other article of jewelry in which stones are held in a setting. The novel setting comprises a plurality of upward arms or prongs 12 generally radially or annularly spaced around the stone tapered outwardly all emanating from a general common center lower portion 13. In a first embodiment, each of prongs 12 includes at least one groove 10 located along inner sides of the arms 12 facing each other in which the edges of the precious stones such as subordinate stones 14 may be slid as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, two grooves are provided for each prong 12, longitudinally along the prongs on substantially opposite sides of the prongs. Since each gap between adjacent prongs will have two grooves on either side thereof, the respective girdles of subordinate stones 14 may be fitted into and slid down grooves 10 with their tables facing outward. Each of the spaces between the arms is tapered downwardly to receive the stones set therebetween, and the stones can be graduated in size to properly fit in the space provided between the arms 12. For example, first subordinate stones 14A are slidable into grooves 10 atop second subordinate stones 14B. Additional sets of subordinate stones may be provided. Support beads or studs 16 project from prongs 12 and are located behind grooves 10 and are adapted to fixedly hold each of the subordinate stones 14 in place by their respective pavilions or hold groups of the stones in place, thereby preventing the stones from coming out of the grooves and out of the prongs. The top stone 18 holds the subordinate stones 14 in place and prevents them from sliding upward and out of the tops of grooves 10. By sliding a plurality of stones 14 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the spaces between the prongs, a new and novel stone setting technique is provided thereby enhancing the overall appearance of the precious jewelry set in accordance with the present method and apparatus.

FIGS. 1-3 are perspective photographs showing the process of assembling the stone and two examples of settings as in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is yet another view of a finally assembled plurality of stones held in the stone setting invention of this apparatus shown adapted and attached to a ring 20. When the stones are set in place, the pressure of the stud 16 on the upper stone maintains the lower stone 14 in place. Placement of the uppermost stone 18 (see FIG. 2) ensures that the entire assembly be held in place.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show additional features of the invention in which the structure of the tapered prongs and narrowing spaces between the arms is provided but instead of or in addition to having projections or studs 16, the stones are held by support beads 22 in front of subordinate stones 14 above their respective girdles. Beads 16 are shown supporting subordinate stones from the rear/bottom on their pavilions, while additional support beads 22 support subordinate stones 14 atop/in front of their respective girdles. Beads 22 may be made from the same precious or semi-precious material as prongs 12 (and in fact may be integrally formed therewith) and thus may have ornamental properties in their own right as well as their aforementioned functional aspects.

FIG. 7 depicts two additional features of the invention. First, as with conventional prong settings, the distal ends 12A of the prongs 12 may be bent over the girdle of the top stone 18 to help retain the top stone. Second, additional stones 15 may be provided along the outer sides of prongs 12 for decorative effect. These additional stones may be channel set, pave set, or set in any conventional manner.

It should be understood that the preferred embodiments were described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The invention is not limited to those embodiments or what is shown in the exemplary drawings but is rather defined in scope by the claims appearing hereinbelow and their reasonable equivalents. 

1. A prong setting for jewelry, comprising: a plurality of prongs, each of said prongs having at least one groove adapted to accommodate a girdle of at least one subordinate stone; and a top stone retained by all of said prongs and bearing down on said least one subordinate stone, wherein said top stone keeps said at least one subordinate stone in place in said prongs.
 2. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 1, each of said prongs having two of said grooves, wherein adjacent of said prongs accommodate substantially opposite sides of a girdle of said at least one subordinate stone.
 3. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said subordinate stones is held between each adjacent of said prongs.
 4. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 3, said at least one subordinate stone further comprising: a first set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of said prongs; and a second set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of said prongs respectively below each of said first set of subordinate stones.
 5. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said subordinate stones on their respective pavilions.
 6. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 4, further comprising: a first set of support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said first set of subordinate stones on their respective pavilions; and a second set of support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said second set of subordinate stones on their respective pavilions.
 7. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the pavilion of said top stone presses against the at least one subordinate stone.
 8. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 1, wherein distal ends of said prongs are bent over the girdle of said top stone to help retain said top stone.
 9. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said grooves are longitudinal along said prongs and the table of said at least one subordinate stone faces outward between adjacent of said prongs.
 10. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 5, further comprising supplemental support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said subordinate stones from in front of their respective girdles.
 11. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 6, further comprising first supplemental support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said first set of subordinate stones from in front of their respective girdles and second supplemental support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said second set of subordinate stones from in front of their respective girdles.
 12. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 1, wherein said prongs are closer together at their respective proximal ends than at their respective distal ends.
 13. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 3, wherein said prongs are closer together at their respective proximal ends than at their respective distal ends and said first set of subordinate stones are larger in diameter than said second set.
 14. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 6, wherein said prongs are closer together at their respective proximal ends than at their respective distal ends and said first set of subordinate stones are larger in diameter than said second set.
 15. A prong setting for jewelry comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart prongs adapted to hold a top stone in a substantially horizontal plane with the top stone's table facing substantially upward and further adapted to hold a plurality of subordinate stones respectively between adjacent of said prongs with the subordinate stones' tables facing substantially outward.
 16. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of support beads projecting from said prongs adapted to support said subordinate stones on their respective pavilions.
 17. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 15, said plurality of subordinate stones further comprising: a first set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of said prongs; and a second set of subordinate stones each disposed between adjacent of said prongs respectively below each of said first set of subordinate stones.
 18. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 15, wherein said top stone helps keep said plurality of subordinate stones in place in said prongs.
 19. A prong setting for jewelry according to claim 18, wherein the pavilion of said top stone presses against at least one of said subordinate stones. 